Buckeyes are at #4, and still in the hunt for Curtis Grant, the #1 OLB in the nation, and Aundrey Walker, the big lineman from Glenville. Getting either or both might bump them up a notch, but...

More importantly, you have to go all the way down to #24 to find another Big Ten team (Nebraska), which really points up the widening talent gap between the Buckeyes and everybody else in the conference. IMO, that's the big story.

The other notable item: Two schools (OSU and ND) in the entire Top 25 are east of the Mississippi AND north of the Mason-Dixon. If that ain't a trend, I don't know what is.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

The other notable item: Two schools (OSU and ND) in the entire Top 25 are east of the Mississippi AND north of the Mason-Dixon. If that ain't a trend, I don't know what is.

I think it is notable that of their Top 100 players, only 15 reside in states with Big Ten schools.

Now, it might be that population shifts have caused an immediate and inordinate number of high school football players from states that historically produce a shit load (technical term) of players like Ohio, Pennsylvania and to a lesser degree Illinois, to all move to California, Texas and SEC states...

Or it might be that Scout isn't run by idiots...and they see that the SEC Brand is on a roll...and people who are on a roll like to hear really good things about themselves, and perhaps might even be willing to pay for it in the form of subscriptions to things like, I don't know, Scout Football Recruiting services...where they will, low and behold, have their views validated...

And the vicious cycle continues.

You know, like the old Lemming way of increasing the number of stars for a player once he committed to ND...except in this case, they beat the rush by making sure an inordinate number of players from the south are ranked high before they have to go through the embarrassing exercise of changing rankings after a commit.

Walker told some people the other day he was going to USC, possibly with fellow-Tarblooder Shane Wynn....and none of the recruiting analysts believed him.

Tonight it looks like that's exactly what he'll be doing tomorrow morning on signing day. It's a big loss for Tressel, especially for a Glenville kid, who everyone thought was just doing the usual Glenville shuffle...taking the visits, maintaining the suspense, and eventually going down I-71 to Columbus.

I read what the experts were saying, and called him a "mortal lock" for OSU.

As Bill Greene said tonight...sometimes you swing and miss.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

danwismar wrote:Walker told some people the other day he was going to USC, possibly with fellow-Tarblooder Shane Wynn....and none of the recruiting analysts believed him.

Tonight it looks like that's exactly what he'll be doing tomorrow morning on signing day. It's a big loss for Tressel, especially for a Glenville kid, who everyone thought was just doing the usual Glenville shuffle...taking the visits, maintaining the suspense, and eventually going down I-71 to Columbus.

I read what the experts were saying, and called him a "mortal lock" for OSU.

As Bill Greene said tonight...sometimes you swing and miss.

What does a dude like that see in a cat like Kiffin or is it really almost much more a position coach and recruiter that gets him with a pen in his hand. Because when I see Lane Kiffin's face all i can think of is punching it unless I'm kicking it. That dude is six tones of shady and he's never won dick.

I don't get it. And look, I understand palm trees and southern california girls. But there are dozens of programs with good weather, great looking girls and who are without Lane Kiffin and NCAA sanctions out there.

That place is just toxic at this point all the way around (except the weather and chicks thing).

Agree on the somewhat pathetic spectacle this has become. Still if you look at the history, those that Top 10 year over year are typically in the hunt. Still have to develop the kids and hope you hit paydirt with the Cam Newton's of the world.

That said, the winners today were Auburn, Georgia and Clemson clearly.

FSU, USC and OSU held their position but also lost some expected. (Steward & Walker respectively)

Bama had a difficult day today, along with LSU. Both felt really good about where they were headed and now Bama could use the boost in the arm of Clowney. Although there are some whisperings that he might be backing into Clemson to complete a huge close for them.

Playing here is the closest thing to heaven. Really, I mean it's amazing to be in a place where the fans truly cherish their football team and stick behind them win or lose. We players love them, too. I feel a sense of accomplishment playing here, we are a special breed of football players with a great opportunity." ~ tOSU LB Brian Rolle

peeker643 wrote:Chris Peterson, on ESPN right now, just lamented there's no early signing period because the recruiting process "isn't as clean as it used to be."

Holy shit.

They must just pull up to recruits homes with the whores actually carrying the bags of money in cars they just leave there.

Any changes will need to be driven by coaches like Peterson and those that can't/won't try to compete with the SEC's shady ways. Just look at how many kids flip flopped between Bama and Auburn today. I can just imagine boosters pulling up to these kids' houses with bags of cash.

On a side not I watched waaay too much ESPNU today. I feel dirty after watching them blow the SEC all day.

peeker643 wrote:Chris Peterson, on ESPN right now, just lamented there's no early signing period because the recruiting process "isn't as clean as it used to be."

Holy shit.

They must just pull up to recruits homes with the whores actually carrying the bags of money in cars they just leave there.

Any changes will need to be driven by coaches like Peterson and those that can't/won't try to compete with the SEC's shady ways. Just look at how many kids flip flopped between Bama and Auburn today. I can just imagine boosters pulling up to these kids' houses with bags of cash.

On a side not I watched waaay too much ESPNU today. I feel dirty after watching them blow the SEC all day.

Me too. Had it on wire to wire while I worked.

The host did a full ten hour shift which was impressive. Not impressive enough for me to remember his name though.

peeker643 wrote:Chris Peterson, on ESPN right now, just lamented there's no early signing period because the recruiting process "isn't as clean as it used to be."

Holy shit.

They must just pull up to recruits homes with the whores actually carrying the bags of money in cars they just leave there.

Any changes will need to be driven by coaches like Peterson and those that can't/won't try to compete with the SEC's shady ways. Just look at how many kids flip flopped between Bama and Auburn today. I can just imagine boosters pulling up to these kids' houses with bags of cash.

On a side not I watched waaay too much ESPNU today. I feel dirty after watching them blow the SEC all day.

peeker643 wrote:Chris Peterson, on ESPN right now, just lamented there's no early signing period because the recruiting process "isn't as clean as it used to be."

Holy shit.

They must just pull up to recruits homes with the whores actually carrying the bags of money in cars they just leave there.

Any changes will need to be driven by coaches like Peterson and those that can't/won't try to compete with the SEC's shady ways. Just look at how many kids flip flopped between Bama and Auburn today. I can just imagine boosters pulling up to these kids' houses with bags of cash.

On a side not I watched waaay too much ESPNU today. I feel dirty after watching them blow the SEC all day.

The SEC's ways are not much more shady then the rest of the country. Just under a bigger spotlight because it's been the best conference for years.

I'd like to predict that the University of Maryland's athletic programs will start to pull big time recruits in the near future, once the head of UnderArmour starts sinking his millions into that university.